Colorado State head coach Dale Layer was fired Monday after compiling a 103-106 record over seven years. Layer had a year left on his contract. Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk said it was "time to move in a different direction." Layer led the Rams to the Mountain West championship and NCAA tournament in 2003, but was just 31-71 in Mountain West games

A late spending surge helped boost sales last week for many merchants, according to data released Monday, offering relief to retailers in a holiday season that is still projected to be only modestly better than a year ago.